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USAC in the 1978 season. Full information

23rd season of the USAC proved to be an exhilarating ride for motorsport enthusiasts worldwide. Spanning from 18th March to 28th October in 1978, this season showcased thrilling races, unexpected twists, and fierce competition. Join us as we relive the excitement and drama that unfolded throughout this unforgettable season of USAC!

Beginners of the season: Roger Mears

List of races and tracks in the 1978 season

Race Winner Track Race Start
Phoenix Indycars 1978 Phoenix Indycars Race 1 Gordon Johncock
Wildcat IV, #20
Phoenix 18th March 1978
Ontario Indycars 1978 Ontario Indycars Danny Ongais
Parnelli VPJ6C, #25
Ontario 26th March 1978
Texas Indycars 1978 Texas Indycars Race 1 Danny Ongais
Parnelli VPJ6B, #25
Texas World Speedway 15th April 1978
Trenton Indycars 1978 Trenton Indycars Gordon Johncock
Wildcat Mk1, #20
Trenton 23rd April 1978
Indianapolis 500 1978 Indianapolis 500 Al Unser
Lola T500 HU2, #2
Indianapolis 28th May 1978
Mosport Park Indycars 1978 Mosport Park Indycars Danny Ongais
Parnelli VPJ6B, #25
Mosport Park 11th June 1978
Milwaukee Indycars 1978 Milwaukee Indycars Rick Mears
Penske PC6, #7
Milwaukee 18th June 1978
Pocono 500 1978 Pocono 500 Al Unser
Lola T500 HU1, #2
Pocono 25th June 1978
Michigan Indycars 1978 Michigan Indycars Race 1 Johnny Rutherford
McLaren M24B, #4
Michigan 16th July 1978
Atlanta Indycars 1978 Atlanta Indycars Rick Mears
Penske PC6, #7
Atlanta 23rd July 1978
Texas Indycars 1978 Texas Indycars Race 2 AJ Foyt jr
Coyote ? 1978, #14
Texas World Speedway 6th August 1978
Milwaukee Indycars 1978 Milwaukee Indycars Danny Ongais
Parnelli VPJ6B, #25
Milwaukee 20th August 1978
California 500 1978 California 500 Al Unser
Lola T500 HU2, #2
Ontario 3rd September 1978
Michigan Indycars 1978 Michigan Indycars Race 2 Danny Ongais
Parnelli VPJ6B, #25
Michigan 16th September 1978
Trenton Indycars 1978 Trenton Indycars Mario Andretti
Penske PC6, #7
Trenton 23rd September 1978
Silverstone Indycars 1978 Silverstone Indycars AJ Foyt jr
Coyote ? 1978, #14
Silverstone 1st October 1978
Brands Hatch Indycars 1978 Brands Hatch Indycars Rick Mears
Penske PC6, #7
Brands Hatch 7th October 1978
Phoenix Indycars 1978 Phoenix Indycars Race 2 Johnny Rutherford
McLaren M24B, #4
Phoenix 28th October 1978

Drivers championship 1978

Tom Sneva

United States

Champion

Points: 4153 Wins: 0 Poles: 7

Al Unser

United States

2nd place

Points: 4031 Wins: 3 Poles: 1

Gordon Johncock

United States

3rd place

Points: 3548 Wins: 2 Poles: 0

List of all drivers for the 1978 season

Name Points
Tom Sneva 4153
Al Unser 4031
Gordon Johncock 3548
Johnny Rutherford 3067
AJ Foyt jr 3024
Wally Dallenbach 2966
Steve Krisiloff 2874
Danny Ongais 2662
Rick Mears 2171
Pancho Carter 1206
Tom Bagley 1188
Bobby Unser 1122
Larry Dickson 1121
Johnny Parsons jr 978
George Snider 766
Tom Bigelow 764
Mario Andretti 681
Dick Simon 670
Jim McElreath 573
Salt Walther 562
Cliff Hucul 519
Lee Kunzman 513
Sheldon Kinser 495
Mike Mosley 483
Roger Mears 400
Bobby Olivero 360
Al Loquasto 321
Joe Saldana 314
Gary Bettenhausen 294
Spike Gehlhausen 188
Larry Cannon 184
Larry Rice 180
Jerry Karl 104
Jerry Sneva 62
Roger McCluskey 61
Phil Threshie 45
Todd Gibson 34
Vern Schuppan 26
Bob Harkey 26
Billy Vukovich 20
Eldon Rasmussen 15
Roger Rager 15
Bubby Jones 10
John Mahler 10
Chuck Gurney 6

List of all cars in the 1978 season

Penske PC6

Cosworth TC

Points: 4640 Wins: 4 Poles: 4

Coyote ? 1978

Ford

Points: 3078 Wins: 2 Poles: 0

McLaren M24B

Cosworth TC

Points: 2756 Wins: 2 Poles: 1

McLaren M24A

Cosworth TC

Points: 2689 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Wildcat Mk2

Offenhauser

Points: 2516 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Wildcat II

DGS

Points: 2186 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Lola T500 HU2

Cosworth TC

Points: 2020 Wins: 2 Poles: 0

Watson ? 1978

Offenhauser

Points: 1646 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Lightning ? 1978

Offenhauser

Points: 1589 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Penske PC6B

Cosworth TC

Points: 1537 Wins: 0 Poles: 2

Lola T500 HU1

Cosworth TC

Points: 1400 Wins: 1 Poles: 0

Lightning ? 1978

Cosworth

Points: 1268 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Parnelli VPJ6B

Cosworth

Points: 1186 Wins: 2 Poles: 3

Penske PC5

Cosworth TC

Points: 1121 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Parnelli VPJ6B

VPJ Cosworth

Points: 1061 Wins: 2 Poles: 4

Wildcat Mk1

Offenhauser

Points: 1041 Wins: 1 Poles: 0

Wildcat IV

Offenhauser

Points: 1000 Wins: 1 Poles: 0

Penske PC6

Cosworth

Points: 828 Wins: 0 Poles: 1

Eagle ? 1978

Offenhauser

Points: 750 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle ? 1978

Cosworth

Points: 688 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle 74

Offenhauser

Points: 679 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Lola T500

Cosworth TC

Points: 611 Wins: 0 Poles: 1

Parnelli VPJ6C

VPJ Cosworth

Points: 581 Wins: 1 Poles: 2

McLaren M24

Cosworth

Points: 578 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Sugai Fox

Offenhauser TC

Points: 513 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Vollstedt 77

Offenhauser TC

Points: 490 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle 78

Cosworth

Points: 400 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Wildcat I

DGS

Points: 389 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Wildcat Mk3

Offenhauser

Points: 353 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle 73

Offenhauser

Points: 314 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M24

Cosworth TC

Points: 304 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle 72 Finley

Offenhauser TC

Points: 301 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Coyote 78

Ford

Points: 300 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

King ? 1978

Offenhauser

Points: 294 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M16E

Offenhauser TC

Points: 263 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Parnelli VPJ6C

Cosworth

Points: 240 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Lightning ? 1978

Chevrolet

Points: 240 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Vollstedt ? 1978

Offenhauser

Points: 180 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M16C

Cosworth TC

Points: 168 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Lightning 77 LHL-4

Offenhauser TC

Points: 100 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M24B

Offenhauser TC

Points: 100 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle 74 Fletcher

Offenhauser TC

Points: 86 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Atlanta 72

Offenhauser TC

Points: 76 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M16B

Offenhauser TC

Points: 62 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M16C

Offenhauser TC

Points: 51 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Lightning 76

Offenhauser TC

Points: 31 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Eagle 76

AMC

Points: 30 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Wildcat III

DGS

Points: 24 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Rascar 78

Foyt TC

Points: 15 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Spirit 78

AMC

Points: 10 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

McLaren M16D

Offenhauser

Points: 6 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Vollstedt 73

Offenhauser TC

Points: 6 Wins: 0 Poles: 0

Wildcat ? 1978

Offenhauser

Points: 6 Wins: 0 Poles: 0